How To Make A Cannon Out Of A Film Canister

VideoJug user KipKay shows you how to make a cannon out of a film canister. This easy to make film canister cannon can shoot over twenty five feet, so learn how to make one now!

Step 1: What You Need

I'm going to show you how to make an exploding film can cannon. Get yourself an old 35 millimeter film can, a long utility style lighter, a small container of breath freshener that's very flammable, and a plastic hobby box.

Step 2: Preparations

Now carefully take apart that utility lighter. When you get it all apart you're going to see a bunch of stuff inside. Something that looks like a lighter, some wires, but what we're looking for is the quartz igniter, this is what's going to trigger our explosion.

Step 3: Assemble The Cannon

Then we're going to solder two small wires to the igniter. Now drill a hole in the hobby box just big enough to hold the igniter. Now drill a smaller hole on the other end just big enough to hold the two wires from the igniter. Drill a small hole in the cap. Then I use plumber's goop to glue the 35 millimeter right over the hole on the hobby box. Then put the igniter through the bigger hole, rough the wires right up through the smaller hole and the 35 millimeter cap.

Strip the other ends of the wires and bend them so they form an eighth inch to a sixteenth inch gap. This is crucial for the igniter spark to jump across.

Step 4: Screw Together

Go ahead and screw the hobby box together. There you have your portable film can cannon. Now let's take it outside and see what it does. Now shoot one blast of the breath freshener into the 35 millimeter cannon quickly seal it over the top. And here we go. It shoots about 25 feet in the air. It's portable enough that you can take it with you. That's how to make an explosive film can cannon.